Medieval sculptured grave slab of a priest (abbot) set into the buttress of the W bell tower of St Molios Church, Shiskine, Arran, Scotland, UK.
Medieval sculptured grave slab of a priest set into the buttress of the W bell tower of St Molios Church, Shiskine, Arran, Scotland, UK. Carved in relief, the figure stands in a trefoil shaped niche holding a chalice with a crozier to his R. He wears eucharistic vestments typical of a C13th churchman, possibly an abbot. The church was built in 1889 & the slab was moved from Clachan old burial ground next to Clauchan Water at the head of Clauchan Glen less than a mile to the NE. The slab traditionally covered St Molios (Molaise) Grave who was born in Ireland around 570, where he returned after spending time as a hermit in a cave on Holy Island off the E coast of Arran. This slab is similar to those found at Saddell Abbey on the Kintyre peninsula, opposite Shiskine to the W across the Kilbrannan Sound. Saddell was founded in the C12th by Somerled, Lord of the Isles, who endowed it with a grant of fertile land at Shiskine. It is just possible that this is the grave slab of Abbot Thomas of Saddell who died in the C13th. St Molios Church is also known as Birchburn, or the Red Church or Red Kirk because it is partly built of local red sandstone from Machrie.
Size: 3782px × 5023px
Location: St Molios Church, Shiskine, Blackwaterfoot, Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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